Mad Men: Blowing Smoke Rewatch
November 23, 2014 7:06 AM - Season 4, Episode 12 - Subscribe
In the midst of a crisis, Don runs into an old friend.
One thing that Mad Men captures really well about life is how much one interaction can change what happens the rest of the day. A discussion with one person can lead to a fight with someone else. In this episode, Midge trying to come on to Don to get heroin money, leads to Don seeing the agency's actions as tawdry (and in turn helps inspire his way of changing the conversation.).
The one conversation coloring another happens pretty often with Betty taking her anger towards Don out on Sally.
P.S. I love the shot of Betty surrounded by the toys at the psychiatrist.
posted by drezdn at 4:24 PM on November 23, 2014 [3 favorites]
The one conversation coloring another happens pretty often with Betty taking her anger towards Don out on Sally.
P.S. I love the shot of Betty surrounded by the toys at the psychiatrist.
posted by drezdn at 4:24 PM on November 23, 2014 [3 favorites]
And thumbs up to Kiernan Shipka on the way she acted when Betty said that she knew Glen better than Sally ever would. It was great how she immediately rejects it, but then with her eyes considers what her mother means.
posted by drezdn at 4:26 PM on November 23, 2014
posted by drezdn at 4:26 PM on November 23, 2014
Poor Midge. "It's heroin, Don."
posted by luckynerd at 12:15 PM on December 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by luckynerd at 12:15 PM on December 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
In this episode, Midge trying to come on to Don to get heroin money, leads to Don seeing the agency's actions as tawdry (and in turn helps inspire his way of changing the conversation.).
There is an interesting comment on the reaction to abstract art here too. As viewers we are maybe instructed to believe that Midg'e "Number 4" is a piece of junk that is offered to Don for sale by desperate junkies. We learn that the painting is supposed to represent "what Midge sees when she closes here eyes - and after image, what's more real". That seems the sort of idea that would appeal to Don who has languished, eyes-closed, on an office sofa for many an afternoon. He buys the painting as an act of charity and is about to throw it out when its personal message to him makes itself clear. I'd like to think he keeps the painting somewhere.
posted by rongorongo at 1:37 AM on September 12, 2019
There is an interesting comment on the reaction to abstract art here too. As viewers we are maybe instructed to believe that Midg'e "Number 4" is a piece of junk that is offered to Don for sale by desperate junkies. We learn that the painting is supposed to represent "what Midge sees when she closes here eyes - and after image, what's more real". That seems the sort of idea that would appeal to Don who has languished, eyes-closed, on an office sofa for many an afternoon. He buys the painting as an act of charity and is about to throw it out when its personal message to him makes itself clear. I'd like to think he keeps the painting somewhere.
posted by rongorongo at 1:37 AM on September 12, 2019
I know it's obvious that Kiernan Shipka is great in this show, but in a world of terrible child actors, it's wild how exciting and unpredictable things get whenever she's on screen.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:34 PM on February 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Navelgazer at 10:34 PM on February 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by drezdn at 9:36 AM on November 23, 2014